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Interesting Facts About Steinbeck's East of Eden
Symbol Characters
Oprah's Book Club  |  September 03, 2008
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Cains
  • Cyrus Trask
  • Charles, Cyrus's son by Alice
  • Cathy Ames, marries Adam and sleeps with Charles
  • Cathy's son Caleb, Aron's twin, raised by Adam


Abels
  • Alice Trask, Cyrus' second wife
  • Adam, Cyrus' son by his first wife
  • Abra Bacon, falls in love at first with Aron, then with Caleb
  • Cathy's son Aron, Caleb's twin, raised by Adam
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Your Guide to East of Eden

Delve into a tale of good vs. evil in Oprah's Book Club pick, East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

The Story of Cain and Abel

Characters in East of Eden relive the biblical story of twin brothers Cain and Abel.

Timshel—Man's Ability to Choose Between Good and Evil

The main theme in Steinbeck's East of Eden: the definition of timshel, from the Cain and Abel story in Genesis, when God discusses sin with Cain.

Writing East of Eden

Cut off from his sons by bitter divorce, Steinbeck used innovative methods to engage and connect with his readers in East of Eden.

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